KOTA KINABALU: Sabah helped 15,554 youths to get jobs this year.
State Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Yakub Khan said this was done through programmes and initiatives aimed to help those who could not afford to pursue tertiary education.
One measure was the Sabah Talent Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) under the Human Resources Development Department (JPSM).
"This programme aims to produce young entrepreneurs who, in turn, will create more job opportunities.
"It will also indirectly reduce youth dependency on jobs from the government and private sectors," he said during a question-and-answer session at the state assembly sitting here.
Yakub was replying to Dumi PG Masdal (Warisan-Silam) on the government's effort to tackle unemployment among school leavers who do not have the opportunities to further their studies.
Apart from STEP, he said a programme known as "Pitch Borneo" had also produced 1,300 technology-based entrepreneurs, of which 112 of them had received RM20,000 each to expand their ideas and products.
Yakub added JPSM had also put in place 15 types of vocational courses and training; long term skill-based training for dive-master, rigging and slinging (advance) and blaster Painter Level 1 & 2, as well as shipping; and Hospitality Engagement Learning Programme (HELP).
Through Sabah Skills Training Centre (SSTC), he said 1,014 youths were trained for upskilling programmes such as retail management, welding, oil palm supervision, drone technology, entrepreneurship among others.
"We are also organising creative digital programmes via Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation centre, which saw 10 participants being recruited by five animation companies.
"Another 11 who were trained in digital literacy in the Ratu Tech programme are now with Capital A Venture Berhad."
The ministry had also provided Sabah Jobs Portal through JPSM) and MyFutureJobs via PERKESO as job-searching platforms that currently make available 84,078 vacancies.